Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Small Businesses: Scotland

Stephen Kerr: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Government on strategic initiatives to support small businesses in Scotland; and what the agreed steps to be taken were at those discussions.

Claire Perry: Holding answer received on 17 July 2017



As set out in my responses to PQ 411 and PQ 2586 the UK and Scottish Governments have been in discussion at both ministerial and official levels. Business support in Scotland is largely devolved however, the department engages with all the devolved regions on a number of initiatives aimed at supporting small businesses. Government programmes, backed by the British Business Bank (BBB), the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme (EFGS) and Innovate UK are investing over £700m to support around 4,500 Scottish companies including: - BBB programmes are currently facilitating approximately £405m of finance in Scotland.Over 2,600 loans totalling over £15m via the Start-Up Loans programme. The Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme is currently facilitating over £61m of finance to 700 businesses in Scotland.The Investment Programme is currently facilitating over £214m of finance to over 1,000 businesses.Innovate UK is committed to support some 206 innovation projects and to invest £28.8m.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Iron and Steel

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of how much steel required for the construction of High Speed 2 will be sourced in the UK.

Claire Perry: It is anticipated that around two million tonnes of steel will be used across the HS2 programme. Last December, the Government issued updated guidance to public sector contracting authorities on how to ensure that they take full account of the value provided by UK steel producers when conducting their procurement activities. To maximise British involvement in supply chain opportunities HS2 has engaged extensively with businesses of all sizes from a diverse range of sectors and across the UK; also working closely with UK Steel, British Constructional Steel Association, the Galvanisers Association and the Confederation of British Metalforming. HS2 Ltd’s recently announced successful Main Works Contractor Tenderers have all confirmed they will comply with works information and further the requirements and spirit of HM Government Procurement Guidance on steel. HS2 will continue to engage with any British business that is interested in supporting its supply chain, throughout the lifetime of the programme. This level of detail builds upon the work this Government has achieved in publishing details of upcoming steel requirements for national infrastructure projects which shows how the Government plans to use three million tonnes of steel until 2020 on infrastructure projects such as High Speed 2 (HS2), the construction of Hinkley Point, and the maintenance and upgrading of the UK’s motorway network. This steel-specific pipeline complements the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline, which set out over £500 billion worth of planned private and public investment.

Iron and Steel

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to encourage UK companies to buy British steel.

Claire Perry: We have commissioned independent research into future market opportunities for UK steel, which has involved substantial dialogue with existing and potential steel consumers across the whole of the UK. We are actively encouraging the UK steel sector to identify the capabilities it will need to act on the findings, and use this information to ensure they are well placed to plan and bid for future work. This is further complemented by the Government publishing details of upcoming steel requirements for national infrastructure projects which shows how the government plans to use three million tonnes of steel until 2020 on infrastructure projects such as High Speed 2 (HS2), the construction of Hinkley Point, and the maintenance and upgrading of the UK’s motorway network. This steel-specific pipeline further builds upon the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline, which set out over £500 billion worth of planned private and public investment; both which enable UK companies to anticipate material demand.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Iron and Steel

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether pipeline data will be made available to UK steel producers who may wish to meet steel requirements for High Speed 2; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: All of the procurement details specifically for HS2’s current and future pipeline of direct contracts are publically available via the HS2 Contract Opportunities Table, on the HS2 website. The HS2 Contracts Opportunity Table is a live document which is updated weekly, identifying the procurement status for each contract, including contact details to facilitate dialogue with potential bidders. Additionally, this shows where organisations have been shortlisted and awarded, ensuring suppliers are appropriately informed regarding procurement and the programmes, and enabling sub Tier 1 contractors a direct access route into organisations that have been awarded work on the HS2 programme. This level of detail builds upon the Government’s published details of upcoming steel requirements for national infrastructure projects which shows how the Government plans to use three million tonnes of steel until 2020 on infrastructure projects such as High Speed 2 (HS2), the construction of Hinkley Point, and the maintenance and upgrading of the UK’s motorway network. This steel-specific pipeline complements the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline, which set out over £500 billion worth of planned private and public investment.